Compton Learning Resources for Ubuntu Users
Compton is a lightweight window compositor for Linux that enhances desktop visuals with effects like transparency, shadows, and fading. Below are structured learning resources to help you install, configure, and optimize Compton on Ubuntu.
The primary resource for Compton is its official GitHub repository (yshui/compton). It includes:
Several guides explain how to install Compton on Ubuntu:
sudo apt update
) and install via sudo apt install compton
. This is the easiest method for most users.sudo snap install compton --classic
to install a snap package (useful if you prefer snap-managed software).build-essential
, cmake
, and library dependencies). This is useful for accessing the latest features or customizing the code.Compton’s behavior is controlled by a configuration file, typically located at ~/.config/compton.conf
(create it if it doesn’t exist). Key resources include:
backend
(choose between xrender
for compatibility or glx
for better performance), vsync
(enable to prevent screen tearing), shadow
(toggle window shadows), and opacity
(set window transparency levels).shadow = false
), using GPU acceleration (backend = glx
), and limiting resource usage with tools like cpulimit
.shadow-exclude = ["class='.*Firefox']"
) or enabling fading effects (fade = true; fade-delta = 30
)./etc/pulse/default.pa
) to load necessary modules (module-native-protocol-tcp
and module-native-protocol-unix
) and restart the service (pulseaudio -k; pulseaudio --start
).vsync
), or transparency not working (check ignore_root
settings). The official GitHub issues page and community forums are valuable for resolving these problems.These resources cover everything from basic installation to advanced optimization, helping you tailor Compton to your Ubuntu desktop for improved visuals and performance.